WELCOME ROOKIES

The contest to increase readership was a smashing success--well almost.  I now have over 70 readers and looking for more.  The winner of the contest in a close race was Fuzzie--he has already received his fantabulous award.  A word of caution to all you newbies:  This little project started because someone I love dearly and live with told me she did not want to hear me rant, rave, scream incoherently, and generally rage against the machine--so why didn't I just start a blog, she asked?  Abracadabra, with much help from the young woman in the Lone Star state, here it is.  You may wish to comment and may in fact disagree.  But this is not truly a two way street since I am invariably right and you are not.  So buckle up and hopefully at least enjoy--here goes.

Assorted Items of Interest:

The two Ric's (that would be Santorum and Perry) have decided that the Boy Scouts will be destroyed if they decide to include Gay leaders and Gay Scouts.  They just don't get it--by the end of the week, the Illinois State Senate passed a gay marriage bill.  These guys lost the Republican nomination but still feel obligated to share their vile opinions.  Kick 'em to the curb.

Staying in Pennsylvania, Mrs. Paterno "got ill" from all the bad stuff said about her husband.  Well I think she ought to go back in bed and put her blinders back on--she was not sexually abused; the children were and they will have long term problems.  Who cares if she is ill--this is about damage done to children; it is about them.  And the family's report which contradicted Freeh's report is a basket of BS.  This happened and the culture created by Joe Pa allowed it to flourish.

Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) is back in the news with all sorts of "non -partisan" proposals. He is just reshuffling the deck and calling out the Prez for not being responsive to the middle class.  Another one to kick to the curb (which is getting pretty full).  Two quotes about these guys.  Paul Krugman refers to them as the "ignorance caucus".  And I am pretty sure it is Hilary after she left office who referred to them as folks "who don't live in the evidence based world". 

Staying in the so called political world.  I just want to send Mitch McConnell back to the tobacco fields in Kentucky.  After the state of the union speech, this brilliant leader said:  "He's gotten all the revenue he is going to get.  Been there, done that".  Real helpful and very respectful.  Any room left on the curb?  The 2/5 Globe carried a great Doonesbury strip about Elizabeth Warren and her new staff member who is (ahem) a Senior Citizen.  Elizabeth gets "that the elderly are people too".  And of course the gutless legislators won't go near any gun legislation.  Everyone was all excited about getting some limits after Newtown but, if you have noticed, its back to business as usual.  I have to hand it to those NRA assholes--they really are savvy in both a PR and a political sense. Chuck Hagel anyone?

And now to Israel.  Police detained women including the Rabbi/sister of comedienne Sarah Silverman because they were praying at the Wailing Wall.  These are the same zealots (not the police but the ultra Orthodox Rabbis who oversee the activity at the Wall) who are involved with the illegal settlements but don't want their boys to fight in the IDF.  And yup those were Israeli jets destroying a convoy in Syria carrying arms to Lebanon.  And OOPS--they also managed to destroy an arms depot which at first was denied.  Lebanon, which was the destination of the convoy, is controlled by Hezbollah and is a mess--so I get what the Israelis were up to.  But they best be careful about how many of their neighbors they can afford to offend.  They are increasingly getting more isolated ---and just became the first country to ever refuse to allow the UN to review the country's Human Rights practices.

So Scottie is now on Fox News--I am guessing some of his truer colors will come out sooner or later.
What scares me is that he will appear to be "normal" compared to Palin.  On the other hand, Jon Stewart who may have the best writers and researchers in the world (ditto Rachel Maddow) eviscerated Dick Cheyney who came out of hiding long enough to grant his first interview and blast Obama.  Stewart dug up all sorts of old tape and just exposed Cheyney for the fool he is--onto the curb too.

SPORTS TALK

Did not watch one play of the Super Bowl--my protest to no one about the pathetic performance of the Pats. No points in the second half--are you kidding me?  Greg Bedard may be the best pro football analyst in America.  His positions ratings both during and after the season were terrific.  If you want to read a really good sports media critic, you have to read Richard Deitsch in SI.Com.  The man writes real well and has great sources.

Any of you know or care about the romance between Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse?  It is a NASCAR story which means it hits a wall at the Mason Dixon line.  I mean who cares what happens at Talledega?.  Much more interested in this whole saga in South Africa with Oscar and his now murdered girl friend. And anyone care about ARod--of course he took those banned substances.  He should shut up and go stand on top of those other curb dwellers.

I am one of those who believe the Celtics are better off without Rondo.  Three reasons:  he is a drama queen; he plays out of control too often; and he falls down like a soccer player if he is breathed on too hard.

I hate players who hold their hand up wanting the ball while they are in a game.  They often get it and fuck up.  Play the game--don't stand around waving and then sulking when you don't get it.

The goalie for Juventus is a spitting image of Bowser the lead singer for Sha Na Na--you need to be of a certain age to remember that factoid.

Hope you are both feeling better, Peter and Ashok.  Happy Belated Valentine's Day to all
Sayonara